The Promise of Deer Run Giveaway

In honor of our upcoming Thanksgiving I wanted to share a post from Elaine Marie Cooper.  She is the author of The Promise of Deer Run.  This is a warm loving story taking place in the 18th century during birth of our nation.  I loved the setting colonial America especially during this season.  Thanksgiving always makes me wonder of our roots, settlers new to a wild world.  And finding hope right around the corner of their new lives.  Life continued on til we had to break away from our apron strings and totally become a nation unto itself.  It is in this setting that Nathaniel and Sarah's story unfolds.  A lil Romeo and Juliet on the the political fore front of the American Revolution.   If you get a chance to read a historical fiction romance then try out The Promise of Deer Run.  And see if it also hits home with you?  Make sure you read through on how to enter the giveaway.  You will love the winning basket.


Grand Prize (Retail Value: $297.38) Contains:
  • Basket
  • $25 Starbucks gift card  
  • Spode Christmas teapot  
  • Spode Christmas mugs   
  • Yankee candle
  • Hardbound copy The Road to Deer Run
  • Hardbound copy The Promise of Deer Run 
  • Bath and Body Paris Amour scent  



The Promise of Deer Run
An Absolutely Charming Tale!
Once again, Elaine Marie Cooper pens an absolutely charming tale of eighteenth century Americana. War, no matter the era, takes its toll on both soldiers and families. The Promise of Deer Run is a precious next story following Mary and Daniel’s story in The Road to Deer Run, picking up with Mary’s sister, Sarah a few years down the line. Be sure to read the first book too! As a historian and author, I am grateful to Elaine for her dedication to authenticity.  —Lisa Lickel,  author of A Summer in Oakville
About The Promise of Deer Run: 
America’s war for freedom from England has been over for seven years, but the wounds of that conflict still haunt the minds and hearts of the residents of Deer Run. Young American veteran Nathaniel Stearns has withdrawn to a life of isolation as he awaits his father who never returned from the war.
A near-tragedy in the woods brings Nathaniel face-to-face with nineteen-year-old Sarah Thomsen, someone he had long admired but he assumed had eyes for another. This chance encounter opens a crack into the door of his heart as mutual affection quickly blooms.
But slander and lies soon mar the budding romance, rendering both Sarah and Nathaniel wounded and untrusting as their faith in both their God and each other is shattered. Set in 1790, this book continues the story of the Thomsen and Lowe families as they struggle to survive in the aftermath of the war that birthed the United States.
Book Cover Photo
The Promise of Deer Run
ISBN: 9781462037964           
Softcover: $16.95           
ISBN: 9781462037971           
Hardcover: $26.95           
ISBN: 1462037968
E-book: $9.99
Released: August 16, 2011
Book Trailer Photo
Watch the book trailer atwww.PromiseOfDeerRun.com
 The Story Behind the Story:
How The Deer Run Saga Was Birthed
By Elaine Marie Cooper
When I was young and first heard that one of my grandfathers had been a Redcoat during the Revolutionary War, I was somewhat embarrassed. Growing up in Massachusetts had made me proud of our country’s heritage. But instead of finding zealous patriots in my bloodline, my DNA was from an enemy soldier named Daniel Prince!
Calmer reasoning prevailed, however, as I thought about the reality of his story. Living conditions in Colonial times were difficult, to say the least. It was a frightening period of our history for both Americans and the British. And in the midst of our nation struggling to be birthed, two people on opposing sides in a bloody war met and fell in love.
This story from my family’s history was transformed in my thinking into an inspiring one of romance, unhindered by the politics of the day. It became, purely and simply, a love story.
And so was birthed the idea to create a fictional account of actual events. Since the story is from my imagination, I opted to change last names, the names of the communities, and many other details of the time. However, many of the historical events are documented facts.
The particular information on Daniel Prince’s military background was discovered thanks to the diligent work of Betty Thomson, independent researcher at The National Archives, Kew, in England. 
In book one, The Road to Deer Run and now in the sequel, The Promise of Deer Run, I made every effort to stay true to the colonial times. Descriptions of food, homes, clothing, farming, worship practices, medical care, etc. are the result of extensive research.
It has been a personally inspiring experience to write these novels. While the times have changed since the 18th century, the same struggles of their day are our own. Forgiveness, fear, pain, illness, despair, the pain of having a family member at war, the death of a loved one—these are all the battles we contend with in the 21st century. But we also share faith, laughter, love, the excitement of that first kiss, the wonder of looking at a newborn. These are the same joys that we share with our ancestors who are so much a part of who we are.
Their journeys are interwoven with our own.
About the Author:
Elaine Marie Cooper grew up in Massachusetts but now lives in the Midwest with her husband, her three dogs and one huge cat. She has two married sons and triplet grandchildren who are now one years old. The Promise of Deer Run is dedicated to the triplets and to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
 
Elaine has been a magazine freelance writer for many years, and is a regular contributor to a blog on the Midwest calledThe Barn Door and a blog on Christian living calledReflections In Hindsight. She is the author of The Road to Deer Run and the sequel, The Promise of Deer Run. Prior to becoming an author, Elaine worked as a registered nurse.
The Road to Deer Run won the following honors:
  • Finalist: 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards 
  • Honorable Mention: 2011 Los Angeles Book Festival
  • Best Romantic Moment: ClashoftheTitles.com, February 2011
Author Photo
Author Elaine Marie Cooper
Grand Prize Photo
Grand Prize
Valued at $297.38
My readers are to leave comments on how they celebrate Thanksgiving to be entered in this giveaway opportunity. You have until November 18, 2011 to get their comments posted. Over that weekend, I will select one name from my group, to send to KCWC as my finalist.  KCWC will take all the finalists and draw one grand prize winner, to be announced November 21, 2011. Here's what the winner receives: 
Grand Prize (Retail Value: $297.38) Contains:
  • Basket
  • $25 Starbucks gift card  
  • Spode Christmas teapot  
  • Spode Christmas mugs   
  • Yankee candle
  • Hardbound copy The Road to Deer Run
  • Hardbound copy The Promise of Deer Run 
  • Bath and Body Paris Amour scent  

Thanksgiving in Early America
by Elaine Marie Cooper
When we sit down at our Thanksgiving meal this month, we’ll be recreating a celebration that is as old as our country: sharing food with loved ones while thanking the God Who has provided the abundance.
While we understand that the First Thanksgiving was celebrated here by the Mayflower survivors along with the Indians that had helped them, the first official proclamation that was decreed to celebrate such a holiday was in 1777. It was a recommendation to the thirteen states by the Continental Congress to set aside December 18th that year as a “solemn thanksgiving” to celebrate the first major victory for the Continental troops in the American Revolution: the Battle of Saratoga.
The Battle of Saratoga has significant interest for my own family since one of my ancestors was a soldier there. But he was not on the American side—he was a British Redcoat. After surrendering to the Americans, he escaped the line of prisoners and somehow made his way to Massachusetts and into the life and heart of my fourth great-grandmother. *SIGH* L’amour!
This family story was the inspiration for my Deer Run Saga that begins in 1777 with The Road to Deer Run. There is an elaborate Thanksgiving meal scene in this novel as well as in the sequel, The Promise of Deer Run.
Some may wonder why such detail was afforded this holiday in my novels set in Massachusetts, while Christmas is barely mentioned. The reason is simple: Thanksgiving was the major holiday in the northern colonies, with Christmas considered nothing more special than a workday. According to Jack Larkin in his book, The Reshaping of Everyday Life, “The Puritan founders of New England and the Quaker settlers of Pennsylvania had deliberately abolished (holidays) as unscriptural.”
But Thanksgiving was begun as a way to give thanks to God for His provision. It usually began with attending church services in the morning, followed by an elaborate feast in the afternoon. The food for this meal was prepared for weeks in advance.
Since the individual state governors chose their own date to celebrate the holiday, it was theoretically possible for some family members—if they lived in close proximity—to celebrate multiple Thanksgiving meals with family and friends across state borders. The dates chosen could be anywhere from October to December, according to Dennis Picard, Director of the Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Chicken was most commonly served, said Picard, as it was readily available in the barnyard. And the oldest woman in the home had the honor of slicing the fowl for dinner.
Pies were made well in advance of the holiday and stored and became frozen in dresser drawers in unheated rooms.
“I like the idea of pulling out a dresser drawer for, say, a clean pair of socks, and finding mince pies,” said Picard, tongue in cheek.
Indeed!
Have a BLESSED Thanksgiving!


Author Bio

Elaine Marie Cooper
Elaine Marie Cooper grew up in Massachusetts but now lives in the Midwest with her husband, her three dogs and one huge cat. She has two married sons and triplet grandchildren who are now one years old. The Promise of Deer Run is dedicated to the triplets and to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.Elaine has been a magazine freelance writer for many years, and is a regular contributor to a blog on the Midwest called The Barn Door (www.thebarndoor.net) and a blog on Christian living called Reflections In Hindsight (ReflectionsInHindsight.wordpress.com). She is the author of The Road to Deer Run and the sequel, The Promise of Deer Run. Prior to becoming an author, Elaine worked as a registered nurse.
Enhanced by Zemanta

11 comments:

  1. I celebrate Thanksgiving by being with family. It doesn't matter what we are eating, or where we are, as long as we are together. On a day that celebrates what we are thankful for, there is no where I would rather be than with those I am most thankful for, my family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The immediate family gets together for thanksgiving meal and then the extended family comes over for pie afterwards.
    hannah
    yellow turtle 123 @ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. We celebrate Thanksgiving by going to my parents house and eating a wonderful feast they prepare:) We bring along mashed sweet potatoes and corn casserole. After we are stuffed and taken some pictures, we look at all the sale ads to prepare for Friday's shopping:)

    jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I LOVE your blog! It is TOO fun. :-) Thank you EVER so much for participating in my blog tour for my novel "The Promise of Deer Run." If you or your readers have any questions about my books, I would be happy to respond. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We actually head up to Wisconsin to visit family every year. We get outside, go for hikes in the cold, and get away from all of the 'Black Friday' madness! erinbdisney at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. We have a pretty small and quiet Thanksgiving - my husband, 18 and 21 year old sons, and my mother. We usually have it at our home, turkey with all the fixins. We are particularly thankful this year as my older son fell off an 80 ft waterfall this summer and survived with only a broken arm, and I almost died a couple years ago of a rare lung disease. Suffice it to say, we don't get upset about the little stuff
    robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. We celebrate at my parents house with most of my eleven siblings! tracietrump@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. We celebrate Thanksgiving by first visiting the Graham's side of the family at noon which usually includes around 20 or so people. Then we head to my parents in the evening for dinner including 12 people with all the fixin's. We have turkey with stuffing in the bird, fried oysters and mashed taters and all. As long as we are with family that is all that matters.

    Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!!

    jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Our family celebrates Thanksgiving by spending time together and eating a yummy we all help to prepare. This year my husband (a police officer) has to work so my daughter and I will join him and his partner at the station.. bringing dinner with us and eat dinner with him, his partner and his family. :-)

    Thanksgiving was also the day my husband proposed to me. We went around the table saying what we were thankful for... he was last and proposed to me!! We have been happily married for 10 years now!!

    dropcqueen at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Normally everyone comes to our home for Thanksgiving, but since my in-laws are getting older and it is harder for them to drive, we will be going to their house. I love Thanksgiving and being with family members and friends that we do not get to see frequently due to the distance between us all.

    Vickie
    vickvern1@gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm celebrating my first thanksgiving with my best friend, as I've just moved to america!

    Kasey
    kaseyball@live.com.au

    ReplyDelete

Yippee! You came to talk to me. Thanks.
You know how special that makes me feel?
Like I swallowed the moon and the stars and I just shine now!